PREMIUM
Rogers' NBA Game of the Week (10* Total) >> Won 22 of 29 in NBA!
(NBA) Houston vs. Portland,
Total: 223.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 223.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 10-6 Houston Rockets visit the 9-9 Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Houston kicked off its second five-game road trip of the young season with its fourth victory in five contests, a 117-104 win over Sacramento on Friday behind an NBA-record 50 attempts from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers began a four-game homestand with a 119-104 victory over New Orleans on Friday.
Houston: Harden (28.3-7.8-12.4) is going to have a terrific season for Houston, as he currently leads the NBA in assists at 12.4 per game and will attempt to become the first player since Kansas City's Nate "Tiny" Archibald in 1972-73 to lead the league in points and assists. He's joined by four other double digit scores in Gordon (14.9), Ariza (12.4 & 5.2), Anderson (112.3 & 5.6) and Capela (11.9 & 8.7). Bradley is working his way back into shape and in five games has averaged 8.4 PPG (also 4.2 RPG and 4.0 APG). He's VERY important to Houston, as the Rockets are 4-1 since he returned to the lineup, after missing the first 11 games of the season with a left knee injury. Houston is averaging 108.5 PPG (5th) on 46.4 percent shooting (4th).
Portland: The Blazers are led by the guard duo of Lillard (28.3-4.9-5.3) and McCollum (22.1). The Portland guards are the second-highest scoring duo in the NBA, next to Golden State's Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. However, only SF Harkless (12.1) also scores in double figures. That said, Portland ranks just head of Houston in points scored at 109.4 PPG (4th). The real problem for Portland is its defense, which entered Friday's game last in the NBA in defensive efficiency (109.7 rating). Portland currently ranks 29th (of 30 teams) in allowing 112.8 PPG.
The pick: Sunday's contest pits the NBA's fourth- and fifth-highest scoring teams and as noted, Portland is arguably the NBA's worst defensive team. The Rockets aren't afraid to hoist up shots from anywhere as the NBA leaders in three-point field goal attempts, with four players averaging more than six attempts from three-point range per game. The Blazers hoist up an average of a little more than 30 three-pointers a game, sixth-most in the league. Portland was 12 for 32 from beyond the arc in its 119-104 victory over New Orleans on Friday night. Over? Not with this high total. The Under is a 10* play.
Houston: Harden (28.3-7.8-12.4) is going to have a terrific season for Houston, as he currently leads the NBA in assists at 12.4 per game and will attempt to become the first player since Kansas City's Nate "Tiny" Archibald in 1972-73 to lead the league in points and assists. He's joined by four other double digit scores in Gordon (14.9), Ariza (12.4 & 5.2), Anderson (112.3 & 5.6) and Capela (11.9 & 8.7). Bradley is working his way back into shape and in five games has averaged 8.4 PPG (also 4.2 RPG and 4.0 APG). He's VERY important to Houston, as the Rockets are 4-1 since he returned to the lineup, after missing the first 11 games of the season with a left knee injury. Houston is averaging 108.5 PPG (5th) on 46.4 percent shooting (4th).
Portland: The Blazers are led by the guard duo of Lillard (28.3-4.9-5.3) and McCollum (22.1). The Portland guards are the second-highest scoring duo in the NBA, next to Golden State's Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. However, only SF Harkless (12.1) also scores in double figures. That said, Portland ranks just head of Houston in points scored at 109.4 PPG (4th). The real problem for Portland is its defense, which entered Friday's game last in the NBA in defensive efficiency (109.7 rating). Portland currently ranks 29th (of 30 teams) in allowing 112.8 PPG.
The pick: Sunday's contest pits the NBA's fourth- and fifth-highest scoring teams and as noted, Portland is arguably the NBA's worst defensive team. The Rockets aren't afraid to hoist up shots from anywhere as the NBA leaders in three-point field goal attempts, with four players averaging more than six attempts from three-point range per game. The Blazers hoist up an average of a little more than 30 three-pointers a game, sixth-most in the league. Portland was 12 for 32 from beyond the arc in its 119-104 victory over New Orleans on Friday night. Over? Not with this high total. The Under is a 10* play.
